House of Hollow Krystal Sutherland
4.5 Stars
My Review
Iris Hollow and her sisters, Grey and Vivi, have always been a little strange. As children, they vanished for a month in Scotland and returned with no memory of where they’d been—but with white hair, black eyes, and an unsettling aura that drew (and disturbed) everyone around them. Now, ten years later, Iris just wants to finish high school and live a normal life. But when Grey goes missing, Iris and Vivi are thrust into a dangerous search that unravels the truth about their disappearance and the dark, magical world that has haunted them ever since.
From the very first pages, I was struck by how vividly the sisters were described. Their beauty, strangeness, and haunting presence leapt off the page, making them feel both mesmerizing and unsettling. The mystery of their childhood disappearance consumed me—I had so many questions, so many theories, and the story kept me guessing right up until the shocking twist.
One of my favorite parts of this book was the bond between the sisters. Despite their differences, their connection felt raw, fierce, and real. Watching them rely on each other through terrifying moments gave the story so much heart. That said, some of the secrets that emerged fractured their relationship, and I truly wished they had been able to fully repair it by the end.
The suspense was intense—there were several moments that felt like genuine jump scares, especially whenever the antagonist was chasing the girls and trying to kill them. The atmosphere carried a dark, magical vibe, and I loved how the story explored the idea of being caught between life and death, lingering in a kind of eerie limbo.
I also have to say—I adored Tyler Lang. His loyalty, bravery, and the way he became part of the sisters’ journey to find Grey added so much depth. His growing bond with the Hollow sisters made me love him even more, and he quickly became one of my favorite characters in the book.
And that plot twist—I was floored. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it completely shifted how I thought about the sisters’ story.
Overall, I gave House of Hollow 4.5 stars. I loved the atmosphere, the sisterhood, the suspense, and the dark magic woven throughout. My only disappointment was that the painful secrets that surfaced ended up driving a wedge between the sisters. After everything they endured together, I hoped they would find a way to heal and repair their bond.
Still, this book was a haunting, beautiful, and chilling read—perfect for fall nights when you’re craving a dark fairy tale that lingers with you long after the last page.
“Why are you so beautiful, do you think? So hungry? So able to bend the wills of those around you? You are like the death flowers that grow rampant in your wake: lovely to look at, intoxicating even, but get too close and you will soon learn that there is something rank beneath. That’s what beauty often is, in nature. A warning. A disguise.”
Krystal Sutherland
Other Books by the Author
Some of the author’s other beloved titles include The Invocations, Our Chemical Hearts, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares, and many more.
Literary Pairing
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig is a haunting retelling of the Grimm fairytale The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Much like House of Hollow, it weaves themes of sisterhood, mystery, and the unsettling unknown. Both stories follow strong female leads as they search for their missing sisters and uncover the dark truths behind their disappearances.
Shelf To Table
Black Forest Cake: A decadent German dessert made with layers of moist chocolate sponge cake, sweet whipped cream, and juicy cherries.
“Some people go missing because they want to; some go missing because they’re taken. And then there are the others—those who go missing because they fall through a gap somewhere and can’t claw their way back.”
Krystal Sutherland